The Kitchen CEO Rorie Orgeron visits one of the organization’s thrift stores, which raises money to help the needy. In 2008, more than 22,500 households received food from The Kitchen’s food pantry.
2009 Charitable Organization of the Year Finalist: The Kitchen Inc.
Tanja Kern
Posted online
Ozarks residents who have fallen on hard times during the deepest economic downturn in a generation get a helping hand from The Kitchen Inc.
Founded in 1983, the organization helps fulfill basic needs of the area's poor by providing food, shelter and medical attention.
"The Kitchen provides indispensable services to a number of people who really wouldn't have anyplace else to go, particularly in these trying economic times," says Gary Funk, president of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, a major source for The Kitchen's funding.
Hard times in Springfield mean more people are seeking assistance, and they depend on The Kitchen to provide housing, food, counseling, health care, education, youth services, clothing, advocacy and life-skills training.
"A lot of those people are working full-time jobs, but with the increased cost of living with food and everything else they just can't make it," says Sarah McCullem, community development director for The Kitchen.
CEO Rorie Orgeron says The Kitchen's medical clinic is inundated with people in need and is currently turning away about 220 people a month because it doesn't have the means to provide services.
"That number doesn't include the people who come by and see how crowded it is in the waiting room and drive off," Orgeron adds.
Housing also presents challenges for the organization. The Kitchen's shelter, the Missouri Hotel, has had a waiting list for more than a year.
"The food pantry and community outreach office is up about 50 percent from this time last year, and that includes people coming in for groceries, rental and utility assistance vouchers or to shop at the thrift store," Orgeron notes.
In 2008, 544 adults and 221 children were sheltered at the Missouri Hotel, and more than 22,500 households in the greater community received goods from the Kitchen's food pantry.
The Emergency Assistance Program provided $20,522 in rent or utility assistance to 71 households, and more than 8,400 patients were treated at The Kitchen's Medical Clinic.
On the health care front, 47,239 prescriptions were filled and 256 patients received dental care. Bill's Place, a partnership with Burrell Behavioral Health, had a total of 11,750 walk-in patients.
Some of The Kitchen's largest recent fundraisers were a Bowlathon in January, 5K Fun Run in May and Harter House's 12th Annual Jerry Bettlach/Jim Trimble Memorial fundraiser, which raised $70,000 in March.
The nonprofit also partners with other community organizations, schools, businesses and churches to extend its reach.
Among those partners is Mid America Management, which provides self-care housing for low-income residents at Franciscan Villa and Sigma House, a supportive housing unit for men in substance-abuse recovery.
Orgeron, who previously worked in sales for 30 years, says he took the role of CEO in 2008 as an opportunity to help people: "I can see how the little things can impact someone's life on a big scale."[[In-content Ad]]
Taking shape on 3.5 acres just east of State Highway H/Glenstone Avenue in the area of Valley Water Mill Park are the Fulbright Heights Apartments – three 23,000-square-foot buildings with 24 units each for a total of 72 one- and two-bedroom apartments.
